JD's one year check up

JD has his one year check up today! Poor baby, he got 6 shots!!!! But, his daddy had to take him, so he realizes how terrible it is! He is a tiny little boy! He weighes 17 lbs 2 oz and is 27 inches long! (He is gonna be tall and skinny like his daddy)! We are going to begin trasitioning to whole milk- we will see how this goes since the formula he has been on didn't have any dairy in it. We got rid of our Apnea Monitor!!! Yeah!!!! No more monitors!!!! Dr. Savage was't concerned about his weight- he is still on the curve and he could tell in his little time with him that he is very active! All in all, it was a good appt and nothing exciting to tell! JD is doing great!

when you can't sleep- blog

Ok- it is currently 2:16 am and I am still awake. I am exhauseted and beyond frustrated that I can't give in to sleep. I have been in bed for over 3 hrs- tossing and turning- I've gotten up twice to potty- and I am finally giving it up. Maybe if I get out of the bed for a little bit, I can finally give in to sleep. I think part of my problem is turning my mind off from thinking a million and one different things- some of which, would likely lead to nightmares!

I had a NST today at the hospital (Non Stress Test). Basically, all that is really, is putting those pink and blue belts across my belly and monitoring Conner's heart rate- looking for any warning signs of distress- we passed that with flying colors! I will be having this done every week. It was kinda nice being back at the hospital that I work at and seeing some of my co-workers. I also got a whoping dose of steroids today and will got back tomorrow (rather, today now) for another large dose. I will be getting these every week from now on. These steroids are suppossed to enhance fetal lung maturity- I am just wanting to be prepared!

I then went on the the Dr.s office. Everything was fine there- I did, however, get in trouble for not gaining any weight since I was there last. I don't have a huge appetite and since all I do is lay around, I can't/don't eat much at one time due to feeling like I will explode when I do! I am having my Glucose Tolerance Test tomorrow, which I already know, I will likely fail. Steroids screw up your blood sugar- I ended up on Insulin with Tatum when I was getting steroids in the hospital with Tatum. I made this argument to Dr. Gist, basically, I was trying to get out of doing it. He agreed that it was probably inaccurate now, but, we also needed to know if and how much the steroids messed up my blood sugar. Ugh- OK! I conceede!

I wish I could suddenly forget how far along and I am how close I am to some scary days in my life. I began getting sick in my 27th week with Tatum and JD both; and I will be 27 weeks next Thursday. It makes me so scared to go and have my Ultrasounds/dopplers at Maternal Fetal for fear that even if I feel fine, it will show that I'm not. I go on Tuesday for that. I just don't think I'm physically, mentally, or emtionally capable enough of doing it all again. Even though, if I did have to, I'm sure I would find my strength somewhere- like I always have

Update: it is currently 3:13 am- I'm gonna try this sleep thing one more time!

Happy 1st Birthday JD

JD's first picture with mommy and daddy! Taken in the OR by his NICU Dr. Karmo

Joel David (JD) Kelly- 2-23-08 3:32 pm- 1 lb 12.7 oz 13 3/4 inches

Kangaroo Care with Mommy! Quiet, precious times.....

JD today! A precious, happy baby!!!!

Happy 1st birthday to my little trouble maker; my puppy dog; MY Baby Boy!!!!! Today was a scary day for our family, but, we were prepared. You were born on your great Maw Maws birthday, so we were thinking it was gonna be a good day for you. You were born at 3:32 pm on a Saturday; 12 weeks early. You came out screaming!!! They said that JD stood for "Just Dandy." You had quite a few struggles in your NICU days, but, ultimately through lots of prayers and your stubborn ways- we only spent 10 weeks there, when at times, it seemed like we wouldn't go home at all.

JD- you have blessed our lives in soo many ways. You have defintetly taught us things only a boy could!!!! We have to be quick with you in our lives- because you are super quiet and lightening fast!!! I am so glad to have you in my life- I am even glad for your "Kelly temper", as it's probably what has gotten you through some rough days. JD, I love you so much and hope you know that you will be my baby boy forever!!!! You have a smile that melts hearts!

Tatum's blog






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(sorry for this! Tatum was dying to write a blog!) No clue what it says, but, she did type her own name!

My thoughts for today

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Love the ones who don't just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands . If it changes your life, let it. Kiss slowly. . Forgive quickly God never said life would be easy. He just promised it would be ! worth it.





I recieved the above statement in an e-mail from my cousin Paige. I don't know if she wrote this, but, it struck a cord with me today. It has made me think about alot of things.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets: I don't have many regrets, per say, but, there are many thing I have questioned and wondered if I had done something differently, would things have been different. I need to give up my guilts and quite blaming myself for things of the past.

So love the people who treat you right: I know I don't always show it, but, I need to be more loving to the people who treat me so well. I know in my heart that I love them, I'm just not sure I show it like I should. JEREMY, you have treated me so right- I am thankful for you and love you so much. I cannot even tell you how much!

Believe everything happens for a reason: As most of you reading this know, I have had some struggles; especially with this pregnancy. I do believe in my heart that this pregnancy, this baby, Connner, happened for a reason. Jeremy and I were chosen to be his parents. Even though, we wouldn't have had another baby with all that had happened with Tatum and JD. There is some reason that God blessed us with this baby. We just may not see it yet- there is a reason and God has a plan. He may grow up to find the cure fror HELLP syndrome (the cause of my two preemie miracles)



If it changes your life, let it: ENOUGH SAID


God never said it would be easy. He just said it would be worth it: There are MANY days, especially since Jan 15 when I went on bedresst, there have defintely been some days that haven't been easy. But, I just keep pressing on towards the goal (of a healthy baby) and realize it will be worth it. I have had many days that were hard in the last year- the days that JD was born, and then the days that he was so sick we should have lost him- they were defintely NOT easy days- but, they were worth it because of what I have now. It's sometimes hard to see things during the hard times.









I just really enjoyed the e-mail from Paige- and may have been on a tangent. I have so many things whirling around in my head over and over!

Tuesdays Dr appt

I had another Dr appt today- jeez, seems like that's all I do these days! LOL (gotta have a sense of humor about this whole bedrest thing!) I will be 24 weeks on Thursday!

It went pretty good- I actually went in there about to lay it all out with as little or much attitude was needed. But, after waiting forever, when Dr. Gist came in, he immediately began discussing all of the things I was the most frustrated about. I decided not to show my butt today. As far as my thrombophillia panel (all the extensive bloodwork I had done in Nashville), he basically just told me that I was at an increased risk of blood clots and to plan to do my lovenox injections throughout this pregnancy (which, I was!) I asked about my Triple Screen for Fetal abnormalities that I had drawn in December; they were all normal. All my bloodwork that I have had is also normal; aside from what we already know is abnormal. My blood pressure is great (it's actually really low when I'm laying down- there have been several times I have felt like I was gonna hit the floor when I've gotten up). And for those of you who had been concerned about my weight gain (or lack there of), I gained 2 lbs in the last 3 weeks- so that is 6 now! I know my hubby sure is glad that I'm gaining! (he's not the one who has to lose it later on!)

Here's the plan of action that we have mapped out for now (between Maternal Fetal and Dr. Gist):

Maternal Fetal Groups Plan

~Ultrasound 2/20 with Fetal weight and Blood flow dopplers

~ Weekly appointments to monitor growth and blood flow weekly after 26 weeks (which FYI is Feb 26th)

Dr. Gist's Plan

~Weekly Non Stress Tests at Hillside Hospital beginning at 26 weeks (refer above to when that starts)

~ Steroid for Fetal Lung maturity Feb 26th and again 24 hrs later (not sure if I'll get more than those or not- that's the starter dose)

~ Office appts every 2 weeks

SOOO, in a nutshell, starting at 26 weeks, I am going to be at the Dr or hospital for tests a minimum of 2 times a week. On the weeks I have to see Dr. Gist, that will be 3 trips. Seems kinda silly to have a girl on bedrest come to the Dr so much! On the plus side- it means I get to breathe fresh air 2-3 times a week! I was kinda nervous at first when Dr. Gist told me about all the extra appts, but, YEAH- he said I can drive myself to my appts in town. It has been almost a month since I've driven!

Everyone has been so wonderful and caring and concerned for us- we can never truly express what everyone has meant to us. What is so terrifying is that I can be completely fine one day, and the next everything turn into, well, my preemie miracles. If I can just get past 28 weeks- My mind will be so much better. When I think about 28 weeks, I want to cry, throw up, panic, hide... I just pray- will all my heart and soul and all I have in me- that all these things that I'm doing WILL make a difference. It has to, right?

Robert Taylor aka Paw Paw

Just a real quick post: Please pray for our family- Our paw paw went to heaven Wed morning. This has been hard, but, at the same time, a blessing. He had been in so much pain for a while, and missed his wife, our maw maw, since she passes away almost 12 yrs ago. He was ready for this and wasn't sccared at all in his last day. Today is his funeral, so it is gonna be an extremly hard day- to say goodbye to my last grandparent; and for my mom and aunts, to bury their daddy. Please keep us in your thoughts. I am, thankfully, able to go. As long as I stay seated with my legs propped up. I am just thankful I can be there for my family.